Design Guidelines - Landscape Guidelines

The campus has gently rolling terrain with stands of mature native live oaks, red oaks, cedar elms, and eastern red cedars common to the Texas Hill Country. Other native plant materials present on the site include Texas mountain laurel, agarita, yucca, and native grasses.

Slopes are gently to moderately rolling. Broad bands of flat areas are located just to the west of the Sombrilla Plaza with the steepest slopes occurring at two small hills south and west of the Convocation Center and along the tributaries of Leon Creek. The creek itself runs just to the east of the campus and bends west, running along the southern edge of the campus for about 2000 feet.

Typical topsoils consist of Crawford and Bexar formations, which are stoney clay in nature and vary in depth up to 24 inches. Smaller amounts of Krum complex, Lewisville silty clay, Patrick, and Tarrant soil also exist. Rock outcroppings of Eagle Ford formations, Buda limestone, Del Rio clay, and Edwards limestone are also present throughout the campus.

General Landscape Concepts

As in the original master plan, campus landscaping plans should continue to implement both deer resistant plant materials and xeriscaping (the use of water-efficient, low maintenance native plant materials). The fabric of the landscape should also reflect the campus goals of creating a pedestrian friendly atmosphere while strengthening the relationship between built and native environments.

The continued use of native shrubs and ground cover plantings under mature trees along paseos at courtyards and at seating areas is encouraged. Planting beds should have at least three of the following four plant layers: shade trees, ornamental trees, shrubs, and ground cover. A recommended minimum depth of three inches of shredded wood mulch should be installed to control weeds and conserve water. Planting beds should be contained with a shovel cut edge treatment at grass areas. Newly planted specimen trees should have a mulch ring which is maintained for two years after planting.

Plantings at courtyards and at building edges are not limited to xeriscape materials, however, drought-tolerant plants are preferred. Certain areas such as that around the Sombrilla already have carefully manicured lawn areas and planting beds that include colorful perennials. These areas require irrigation systems and regular maintenance.

Campus Edges and Areas of Native Preserve

Undeveloped areas at the perimeter of the campus and other areas shown on the master plan should remain undisturbed, however, native grasses such as buffalo grass and bluestem should be planted and selective trimming of trees undertaken at pathways and roadway edges. Clearings should be made adjacent to each entry to the campus.

Roadway Edges

Exterior roadways should be bordered by undulating strips of land that are selectively cleared of brush and trees under one inch in caliper. Native grasses should be planted where erosion is prevalent. Interior roadways should be bordered with a relatively low mown grass that undulates in depth with respect to the road alignment. Behind the mown grasses, an unmown area of taller native grasses and wildflowers may blend into the undisturbed native vegetation.

View Corridors

View corridors should be kept clear to allow visual penetration into the site. With the exception of specimen trees and other natural site amenities, view corridors should be free of any unnecessary visual intrusions. The width of view corridors will be determined on an individual basis. These areas will be cleared and planted with native grasses and wildflowers.

Meadowlands

Certain areas of the campus, like the land to the south of the John Peace Library and along the entry drive at Edward Ximenes Boulevard, should be maintained as meadowland. Selected specimen trees should remain, and in certain areas as shown on the master plan, rows of shade trees should be planted. The grass at areas like those just mentioned should be occasionally mown, but minimal maintenance will be performed.

Cedar trees and low-lying brush should be cleared from all meadow areas. Selective additional clearing of trees should be performed to create areas of open space and view corridors. At certain areas of the meadow, native grasses and wildflowers should be planted and allowed to grow unmown. The meadow areas will be transitional areas between manicured areas and areas of native preserve.

Paseos

Beyond the area where paseos are defined by buildings, paseos should be landscaped with specimen shade trees along both sides. Intermediate planting beds of trees and ground covers centered in the paseos can be installed to add variety to the pedestrian environment. Shrubs over eighteen inches would obstruct views during the evening hours and are discouraged.

Sombrilla Garden

The existing Sombrilla landscape varies slightly from the rest of the campus landscape theme by combining the Texas Hill Country landscape with a tropical feeling through the introduction of colorful perennials and palm-like plants. This design establishes a feeling of coolness. An idea suggested in the 1993 master plan, suspending large baskets underneath the Sombrilla, is still encouraged.

Sitting Areas

Smaller sitting areas may be located along the paseos. Ornamental trees should be located in such a way as to offer a sense of space while providing protection from the summer sun and winter winds. Tree selection should be based on the scale of the space. The use of ground covers and shrubs eighteen inches or lower is also encouraged to define the sitting areas.

Courtyards

Some courtyards are located along the paseos. Other courtyards shown on the master plan will be created by the placement and shape of buildings, and will not be adjacent to a paseo. Landscaping should give a distinct character to each courtyard space. Landscaping should provide shade and should enhance the spatial edges created by building façades. Ornamental trees such as crape myrtles and redbuds should be planted to offer seasonal interest and to soften adjacent building edges to a scale appropriate to pedestrians. Fragrant and flowering shrubs, ground cover, and vines should also be incorporated to attract pedestrians into the space by stimulating their senses of smell and vision. Some of these spaces should be large enough to incorporate site amenities such as water features. Typically, courtyard areas will receive regular maintenance and will have irrigation systems included in their design.

Shading

Pedestrian comfort and protection from seasonal weather is an important element of successful campus design. Effective shading is encouraged either through the use of shade trees or through architectural means as described elsewhere in the guidelines.

Shade trees should be planted along major pedestrian paths to block winter winds and to protect users from the summer sun. Trees should be deciduous and should be spaced based on a dimension half of the size of the mature tree canopy. Paths from perimeter parking areas and recreational paths should have trees planted in such a way as to provide protection and blend in with the surrounding landscape.

Plant Material Guidelines

Shade Trees

Live Oak: Quercus virginiana
Texas Red Oak: Quercus texana
Cedar Elm: Ulmus crassifolia
Monterey Oak: Quercus polymorphia
Burr Oak: Quercus macrocarpa
Lacey Oak: Quercus glaucoides

Small Trees and Large Shrubs

Desert Willow: Chilopsis linearis
Mountain Laurel: Sophora secundiflora
Flameleaf Sumac: Rhus lanceolata
Roughleaf Dogwood: Cornus drummondii
Texas Persimmon: Diospyros texana
Texas Buckeye: Acsculus arguta

Shrubs

Agarita: Berberis trifoliolata
Ceniza/Texas Sage: Leucophyllum spp.
Cotoneaster: Cotoneaster dammeri
Dwarf Burford Holly: Ilex cornuta
Dwarf Yaupon: Ilex vomitoria
Lantana: Lantana horrida
Lavender: Lavandula spp.
Mexican Oregano: Poliomintha longifolia
Rosemary: Rosmarinus officinalis

Perennials, Succulents, and Lilies

Prickly Pear Cactus: Opuntia spp.
Lily of the Nile: Agapanthus spp.
Red Yucca: Hesperalae parvifloria
Bear Grass: Nolina spp.
Sotol: Dasylirion spp.
Yucca: Yucca spp.
Cedar Sage: Salvia roemeriana
Indigo Spires: Salvia spp.

Ground Covers

Aaron’s Beard: Hypericum calycinum
Periwinkle: Vinca major
Santolina: Santolina spp.
Spearmint: Mentha spicata
Thyme: Thymus spp.
Cast-Iron Plant: Aspidistra lurida
Verbena: Verbena spp.
Monkey Grass: Ophiopogon japonicus

Ferns, Wildflowers, and Herbs

Black-eyed Susan: Rudbeckia hirta
Blackfoot: Daisy Melampodium lecanthum
Bluebonnet: Lupinus texensis
Holly Fern: Cyrtomium falicatum
Periwinkle: Vinca rosea
Sword Fern: Nephrolepis spp.
Wood Fern: Dryopteris spp.
Yarrow: Achillea filipendulina

Grasses (developed areas)

Zoysia: Zoysia spp.
Bermuda: Cynodon dactylon

Ornamental Grasses (undeveloped areas)

Muhly Grass: Muhlenbergia lindheimeri
Little Bluestem: Andropogon scoparius
Sideoats Grama: Bouteloua gracillis
Prairie Buffalo Grass: Buchloe dactyloides

Partial plant list taken from John Lipe, former professor and Extension Horticulturist, Texas A&M University System

Recommended Planting Sizes at Installation

Shade Trees: 5"-6" caliper, ball-and-burlapped or containerized
Ornamental Trees: 12'-14' height, 7'-8' spread, ball-and-burlapped or containerized
Large Shrubs: 15 gallon container
Medium Shrubs: 5 gallon container
Small Shrubs: 2-3 gallon container
Ground Covers: 1 gallon container
Annuals/Perennial: Plants should be spaced based on individual species. Quality and shape of plants should meet the American Standards of Nursery Stock.
Contact UTSA landscape maintenance personnel for available sizes.

Screen Plantings

Aboveground utilities such as electrical transformers should be screened by architectural enclosures or by evergreen plants. Plants should be selected based on the mature height required to provide a 100 percent screen and should be limbed to the ground. Also, plants should be spaced on alternate centers based on half the diameter of the species’ mature canopy.

Site Irrigation

Selected areas of the landscape such as recreational fields and formal planting areas will require regular watering, and irrigation systems must be installed. Most other open space areas will be planted with xeriscape materials which will not require the installation of irrigation systems.

All new plantings that require regular watering should be irrigated with an automatic irrigation system. Irrigation equipment must match the existing products and manufacturers used by the university's maintenance division. Turf and planting beds should be irrigated separately with spray heads spaced as required to provide head to head coverage. Site irrigation heads must be located a minimum distance of six inches away from building façades and paving areas. Heads should be installed flush with lawn and planting areas to avoid damage.

Specimen trees should be irrigated with two bubblers per tree. Planting beds should be irrigated with low projection spray heads. Large open spaces should be irrigated with rotary heads. Irrigation heads should be spaced as required to provide head-to-head coverage.

Recreation field irrigation systems may be developed as part of a stormwater filtration system. For all field irrigation systems, contact the UTSA Maintenance Division for specific metering requirements and approved systems and manufacturers.

Hardscape Guidelines

The paseos are the primary pedestrian paths which extend outward from the central plaza. Paseos are sixty feet wide. The exposed warm colored aggregate concrete sidewalks lined in brick pavers should continue to be the standard for new development. New walkway surfaces should continue the pattern of a primary paving material with a contrasting accent. Their layouts may place a contrasting material like brick, tile, or stone in either a central path or in a framed panel on either side.

Recreational paths such as bicycle and jogging paths are intended to support a minimum to average pedestrian traffic flow. Jogging paths should generally be eight foot wide asphalt paths. Trails that are shared by pedestrian and bicycle traffic should generally be twelve foot wide asphalt paths. Nature trails and paths are intended to support a low traffic flow. Trails should be asphalt paths and should be a minimum of four feet wide. Other materials may be used in lieu of asphalt including compacted limestone screenings. Paved areas in the Edwards Aquifer recharge area must be minimized so that rain water may filter through. All pedestrian pathways must comply with the Texas Accessibility Standards.

Site Amenities

High quality teak or painted metal furniture should be used to ensure durability and low maintenance. These pieces should be used along major pedestrian circulation areas and around activity areas. They should also match existing wood and metal furniture styles, lengths and finishes.

Trash receptacles should match existing receptacles. Frames must house a solid container and should be placed near gathering spaces. The existing design will be altered to create the necessary recycling containers for the separation of waste materials as per the university's recycling guidelines. The following products, or their equivalents, should be used:

• Wooden Round Tables: 50" Essex Dining Table #TR 50
• Wooden Chairs: Classic Dining Chairs #CL 18
• Wooden Benches without Backs: Brunel Backless Bench #428
• Wooden Benches with Backs: Hyde Park Settee with center leg #HP 80
• Ash Urns: Wausau Tile No. TF2001
• Snuffer: Color selection may vary by building
• Trash Receptacles: Terra Form, Precast Reinforced Concrete Model TF1160 27" dia. Trash with Pitch-in top (31 gal) # 675 or Terra Form, Precast Reinforced Concrete Model TF1083 24 " dia. Trash with Pitch-in top (31 gal) # 425
• Parking Lot Receptacles: Pilot Rock Park Equipment
• Trash receptacle holders for 55 gallon barrels Model TRH/B-55TP14
• Bicycle Racks: Canterbury International, Manhattan Bicycle / Moped Rack, or equal (color to complement adjacent site and architectural amenities)